Saturday, August 23, 2008

IN BLACK RESISTANCE CELEBRATION OF GABRIEL PROSSER: BLACK RESISTANCE DAY

[ATTENTION: THIS 2006 RE-POST FROM "THE BLACK FIST: BEST & BRIGHTEST EVERYDAY BLACK HISTORY SERIES." REMEMBERS "BLACK RESISTANT DAY" ALWAYS CELEBRATED BY THE BLACK FIST ORGANIZATION IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. WE CELEBRATE THE HEROIC LIVES OF EXTRAORDINARY BLACK MEN SUCH AS NAT TURNER, DAVID WALKER AND THE BROTHER YOU WILL READ ABOUT TODAY, BRO. GABRIEL PROSSER. AGAIN JOURNEY BACK IN TIME WITH US TO STUDY GABRIEL PROSSER'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. REMEMBER. CELEBRATE. ENJOY!]

In this third installment of "The Black Fist: Best & Brightest Everyday Black History Series", We're going to read about the resistance and non-compromising conviction of Bro. Gabriel Prosser. Gabriel Prosser was born a slave and fought against his chains all the way out. And not only did he fight against his chains to be free, he also fought to get his brethren and sisters freed as well. This story has many twist and turns, so much of what I've read in Bro. Gabriel's life could be applied to what's going on in the black community today.As you read this fascinating story of plots, plans, rebellion and snitches, you will see exactly what I mean.Let's take a read into the life and times of our beloved brother, the black man called Gabriel Prosser. General Nikki X will call this edition in our series-- the same name The Black Fist gave to one of our many annual celebrations down on Cincinnati Fountain Square downtown in the heart of the city......"Black Resistance Day!"GABRIEL PROSSER c. 1775-1800Gabriel Prosser (ca. 1775-1800) was the African American leader of an unsuccessful revolt in Richmond Virginia, during the summer of 1800.Gabriel Prosser, the slave of Thomas H. Prosser, was about 25 years old when he came to the attention of Virginia authorities late in August 1800. Little is known of his childhood or family background. He had two brothers and a wife, Nanny, all slaves of Prosser. Gabriel Prosser learned to read and was a serious student of the Bible, where he found inspiration in the accounts of Israel's delivery from slavery. Prosser possessed a shrewd judgment, and his master gave him much latitude. He was acknowledged as a leader by many slaves around Richmond.

With the help of other slaves, especially Jack Bowler and George Smith, Prosser designed a scheme for a slave revolt. They planned to seize control of Richmond by slaying all the whites (except the Methodist, Quakers, and Frenchmen) and then to establish a kingdom of Virginia with Prosser as King. The recent, successful American Revolution and the revolutions in France and Haiti--with their rhetoric of freedom, equality, and brotherhood--supplied examples and inspiration for Prosser's rebellion. In the months preceding the attack Prosser skillfully recruited supporters and organized them in military units. Authorities never discovered how many slaves were involved, but there were undoubtedly several thousand, many armed with swords and pikes made from farm tools made by slave blacksmiths.

The plan was to strike on the night of August 30, 1800. Men inside Richmond were to set fire to certain buildings to distract whites, Prosser's force from the county was to seize the armory and government buildings across town. With the firearms thus gained, the rebels would supposedly easily overcome the surprised whites.

On the day of the attack the plot was disclosed by two slaves who did not want their masters slain; then Virginia governor James Monroe alerted the militia. That night, as the rebels began congregating outside Richmond, the worst rainstorm in memory flooded roads, washed out bridges, and prevented Prosser's army from assembling. Prosser decided to postpone the attack until the next day, but by then the city was too well defended. The rebels, including Prosser, dispersed.Some slaves, in order to save their own lives, testified against the ringleaders, about 35 of whom were executed. Prosser himself managed to escape by hiding aboard a riverboat on its way to Norfolk. In Norfolk, however, he was betrayed by other slaves, who claimed the large reward for his capture on September 25. Returned to Richmond, Prosser, like most of the other leaders, refused to confess to the plot or give evidence against other slaves. He was tried and found guilty on October 6, 1800, and executed the next day.There is no complete fulll-length biography of Gabriel Prosser.Well folks what did you think of that? General Nikki X has some thoughts and they go a lil something like this: "I'll Be damned!!!" This is the kinda thing that goes on today in 2006, same as is 1800. Snitching, Black folks loving their masters more than they love themselves and their brothers and sisters. What in the hell causes one to turn on someone who looks just like you for another and especially one that has your ass and the asses of your brethren enslaved??? I'll never understand it, but then again I fully understand it. It's called "self-hatred", "F-E-A-R" and thinking the white man is God almighty in the snowy flesh. Back in 1880, it could be reasonably understood the fear blacks had of whites, I mean, they were ACTUALLY in chains. But what the hell causes a black person to fear the white man and his woman today?There are many blacks running around today in 2006, who would rather slit their own throats and the throats of their black babies than to even imagine let alone see the white man fall down and skin his knee!Pitiful.Maybe you, the readers of this blog will have a few thoughts about this very important subject and also let us know what you think of the courage and boldness of our beloved Gabriel Prosser. That brother refused to "snitch", "cry", "moan" and "whine" like a sissy about "they [white folks] gonna get me". No! he stood up like a man and never snitched on his fellow slaves nor did he confess to shit! He took the unjust punishment dole out to him in the form of execution by the hands of his evil slave masters with dignity, respect and black self-love with the Creator on his side.Do you think if "talk radio" had been invented back then, Gabriel Prosser could've been heard crying like a bitch about his situation on every station he was allowed to call into? -OR- Do you think he would've just done what the hell he had to do, took his punishment like a bold fearless Black Militant and that would've been that?General Nikki X thinks Gabriel Prosser would've gone down like the bold Black Militant Soldier he went down as....."A Bold Fearless Non-Snitching Strong Black Militant Soldier!"Personal Side note Observation: It seems like the best & brightest, boldest, fearless Black Militant Soldiers were either born in the month of "August" or "Set it Off" in the month of August!Have you ever noticed that?STAY TUNED FOR OUR FOURTH INSTALLMENT COMIN' BLACK ATCHA SOON. RIGHT HERE ON THE "ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE BLACK FIST", THE BLACK FIST BLOG!BLACK FIST, BLACK POWER, BLACK NATION!!!